American comics: I am full of martial virtues and I love to be kind to others.

Seeing his companion subdued, the robber panicked. "Don't come any closer! I'll shoot!" He pointed his gun at the cashier behind the counter. "One more step and I'll kill him!"

Lynn maintained a steady grip on his gun, his voice calm and firm, "You're surrounded. Harming the hostages will only make things worse. Put down your weapon, and you still have a chance."

The robber's hands began to tremble, and sweat dripped from his forehead. He looked young and fearful, perhaps a first-timer in this kind of crime. Lynn used this to her advantage, continuing to apply pressure:

“Think about the consequences. Are you really prepared to face life imprisonment for a robbery? Put down your weapon, and I guarantee you will be treated fairly.”

These words seemed to have an effect. The robber's eyes began to waver, and the muzzle of his gun lowered slightly. At that moment, Lynn acted decisively, leaping forward while keeping his gun aimed at his opponent. His movements were lightning fast; before the robber could raise his gun again, Lynn was already in front of him, grabbing his wrist with one hand and pushing the gun towards the ceiling, while his other hand struck the robber hard in the abdomen, causing him to lose his balance.

Gunshots rang out, but the bullets only hit the ceiling. Lynn quickly subdued the robber, disarmed him, and handcuffed him with a second pair of handcuffs.

The whole process took no more than thirty seconds. Lynn stood up, quickly checked on the clerk, and confirmed that he was not injured, just shaken. Then, he walked to the store entrance and brought the second robber inside as well, making him sit on the floor with his accomplice to wait for the police to arrive.

Soon, the sound of sirens grew louder. Lynn looked up and saw George and Gwen standing across the street. Gwen's face was filled with worry and fear, while George looked serious and proud. Lynn nodded to them, indicating that everything was under control.

A few minutes later, several police cars arrived at the scene, and a team of officers rushed into the convenience store. Lynn immediately raised his hands to identify himself.

“Lynn Hall, FBI Agent.” He slowly produced his badge with his other hand. “Three suspects have been subdued and weapons have been seized. No injuries.”

An officer checked his badge, then nodded. "Thank you for your assistance, Detective Hall. We're taking over the scene."

Lynn briefly explained the situation to the police, then walked out of the convenience store to meet up with George and Gwen, who were waiting. Gwen immediately rushed forward and hugged him tightly.

"You idiot!" her voice trembled. "You might get beaten to death!"

Lynn gently stroked her sister's hair. "Hey, I'm fine. This is my job, remember?"

George stepped forward, looking at Lynn with an approving gaze. "Well done, son. I wish you had waited for the police, but you saved that clerk's life." He patted Lynn on the shoulder. "You've really grown into an excellent law enforcement officer."

Lynn felt a warm current flow through his heart. The approval from his adoptive father meant a lot to him, especially since George himself was a highly respected police officer.

“I just did what I was supposed to do,” Lynn replied modestly.

Over the next hour, they cooperated with the police to complete the necessary procedures and give statements. Thanks to Lynn's identity and professional handling, the entire process went relatively smoothly. Finally, when all the procedures were completed, it was late at night.

“Alright,” Lynn said, looking at Gwen and George, “I think we should continue with our plan—to take you home. Hopefully, there won't be any unexpected hiccups this time.”

Gwen took Lynn's arm and said, half-jokingly, "Seriously, Lynn, is it always this exciting with you? I thought tonight was just a regular family dinner."

Lynn smiled. "That's usually true. But today is a bit special."

When they arrived at George's apartment building, Lynn hugged her adoptive father and sister.

"See you tomorrow?" Gwen asked expectantly. "Maybe we can have a picnic in Central Park?"

Lynn nodded. "Sure, that sounds good. I promise there won't be any dangerous operations this time."

George smiled and patted Lynn on the back. "Don't make such promises lightly, son. Danger always seems to find you."

Lynn watched them enter the apartment building, then turned and walked towards her own place.

The next day.

Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains into Lynn Hall's apartment, waking the FBI agent. He opened his eyes, stretched, and felt much more relaxed than the day before.

He picked up his phone from the bedside table and saw several unread messages. The first was from Mark, asking how his vacation was going; the second was from Deputy Director Clayton, informing him that the preliminary list of special operations team members had been finalized and he would be formally notified when his vacation ended; the last one was from Gwen, the content of which made him frown slightly.

"Good morning, hero! Did you see the news last night? Your feud with the robber was on the local news! By the way, I've arranged a surprise for you—my colleague Ethan Redlich wants to see you at 'Dawn Cafe' in Brooklyn Heights at 11 a.m. He's a columnist for the Daily Bugle, specializing in superpowered and mutant topics. Don't be late! Love, sister."

Lynn sighed and rubbed his temples. Gwen had a habit of "planning surprises" for him, a habit that had started when they were children. Usually, these surprises meant he was scheduled for social events he would rather avoid. But this time, the situation seemed particularly troublesome—a reporter who specialized in covering mutant topics? That was definitely not in his comfort zone.

As an FBI agent, Lynn's stance on mutant issues has always been cautious and complex. On one hand, he respects the law and human rights, believing that mutants should receive the same protection as ordinary citizens; on the other hand, he has also witnessed firsthand the disasters caused by mutants with dangerous abilities. The FBI has specialized departments handling mutant-related cases, but Lynn's duties primarily focus on counterterrorism and biohazards, rarely involving him directly in mutant affairs. He replied to Gwen's message: "I haven't seen the news. Regarding your 'surprise,' I'm really not sure it's a good idea. A reporter covering mutant topics? You know I can't discuss work-related matters."

Almost immediately, Gwen replied: "Please, Lynn! Ethan is a good guy, very talented. He just wants to get to know you, not for an interview. I've already told him you're my brother, and he's looking forward to meeting you. Don't embarrass me, okay?"

Lynn knew he couldn't refuse Gwen's request. Since their parents died in a car accident, Gwen had become one of the most important people in his life. George had adopted them and given them a home, but the special sibling bond between Lynn and Gwen had never changed.

“Okay,” he finally replied, “11 o’clock, Morning Coffee. But I can only stay for half an hour; I have an appointment with George at the shooting range this afternoon.”

Gwen replied with a string of smiley faces and words of thanks, and Lynn couldn't help but smile. No matter how unwilling he was, he could never refuse Gwen's requests.

After getting up, Lynn did a simple morning workout—push-ups, sit-ups, and a few sets of dumbbell exercises to fully stretch his muscles. Then he took a shower, shaved, and changed into a dark gray shirt and jeans, topped with a light dark blue jacket. This was his standard attire on leave—comfortable but neat, the jacket loose enough to conceal the pistol at his waist. Although on leave, as a seasoned agent, he had developed the habit of always being armed.

"Dawn Cafe," located on a quiet corner in Brooklyn Heights, is an elegantly decorated little café renowned for its high-quality handcrafted coffee and homemade pastries. Lynn arrived ten minutes early and chose a window seat with a view of the entire café. This was his professional habit—always choosing a spot where he could monitor his surroundings and had multiple escape routes.

He ordered a black coffee and began observing his surroundings and the people around him. The café wasn't crowded; most were nearby residents or office workers. Quiet jazz music played softly in the background, creating a relaxing atmosphere.

Just as Lynn was sipping his coffee, the café door opened, and Gwen walked in, accompanied by a man of about thirty years old. The man was of medium height, with a neatly trimmed beard, black-rimmed glasses, and dressed casually yet elegantly, carrying a leather notebook. Gwen glanced around, and upon seeing Lynn, her face immediately lit up with a bright smile. She pulled the man towards him.

“Lynn!” Gwen greeted him warmly, bending down to give him a hug. “You’re right on time, that’s great.” She turned to the man beside her. “This is Ethan Redlich, a columnist for the Daily Horn. Ethan, this is my brother, Lynn Hall.”

Ethan extended his hand with a friendly smile. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Hall. Gwen often speaks of you, always with impressive stories."

Lynn stood up, cautiously shook the other man's hand, noticing its firm and confident grip. "Just call me Lynn," he replied briefly, a hint of wariness in his voice. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

After the three were seated, Gwen began to lighten the mood, talking about the café's signature drinks and snacks. She clearly sensed Lynn's wariness and tried to ease the tension. Ethan ordered a latte and a blueberry muffin, appearing quite relaxed.

“So, Lynn,” Ethan began after a brief exchange of pleasantries, “Gwen told me you work for the FBI? That must be a very challenging job.”

Lynn nodded slightly, maintaining a professional calm on his face. "That's true. But I believe every profession has its unique challenges." He deliberately answered in an unbiased manner, avoiding giving the other party the opportunity to ask further questions.

Gwen lightly kicked Lynn's foot, clearly annoyed by his cold attitude. She turned to Ethan and said enthusiastically, "Lynn just stopped a convenience store robbery last night, it was like something out of a movie!"

Ethan's eyes lit up. "Really? I heard that a federal agent did subdue three armed robbers while on leave last night. It was you? That's impressive."

Lynn shifted his posture slightly, looking a little uncomfortable. "It just so happened that I was in the right place at the right time. Any law enforcement officer would have done the same thing."

“Modesty,” Ethan commented with a smile, “but as far as I know, not everyone can take on three armed thugs alone.” He paused, seemingly considering the next point, “You know, I’ve been researching law enforcement agencies’ attitudes and policies toward individuals with superpowers lately. As an experienced FBI agent, you must have some unique insights.”

Lynn's expression immediately became more wary. This was exactly what he had feared—reporters always managed to steer the conversation in a direction that interested them. He glanced at Gwen, who was looking at him expectantly, clearly hoping he would engage with Ethan's topic.

“I’m afraid this is not a topic I can discuss,” Lynn replied calmly, his tone becoming more formal. “The FBI has strict regulations regarding media statements, especially those concerning sensitive policy areas.”

Ethan didn't seem surprised by the response; he smiled and nodded. "Of course, I completely understand. I'm not looking for an official statement. Just as a person, as a citizen, what are your views on mutants and superhumans? Do you think they should be treated the same as ordinary people, or should they be subject to special regulations?"

Lynn felt a surge of irritation. The question seemed simple, but it was fraught with traps. No matter how he answered, it could be misinterpreted or used to support a certain political stance. As a federal agent, he had to remain neutral and professional, especially in public.

“Ethan,” Lynn’s voice deepened, his gaze meeting Ethan’s directly, “I understand your interest in this topic, but I must state that I will not offer any personal opinions on mutant policy or related issues. This is not only because of my professional position, but also because I believe these complex issues require a comprehensive consideration of legal, security, and human rights factors, and cannot be fully discussed in a brief conversation in a coffee shop.”

Gwen looked somewhat disappointed, but Ethan seemed quite interested in the response. He nodded slightly, took out his notebook, and made some notes.

“Interesting,” he said. “Many people are eager to express their opinions, especially on hot topics like mutants. Your caution and professionalism are refreshing.”

Lynn frowned. "I hope you're not treating this as an interview. If you are, I must state that this is 'informal' and should not be quoted."

Ethan immediately closed his notebook, raising his hands to indicate he was harmless. "It's definitely not an interview, just a personal habit. As a journalist, I always jot down interesting insights. But I respect your position and won't quote anything."

The atmosphere became somewhat tense. Gwen tried to change the subject, talking about a recent movie, but the conversation felt forced and unnatural. (End of Chapter)